Daily Number

9

September 12, 2014

The Girl Scouts Research Institute took a look at key issues facing the state of girls between 5 and 17 and ranked each state by key social, economic, and health issues. New Jersey ranked ninth in the country. New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Massachusetts, and Vermont ranked as the top five.

Predictably, New Jersey scored highest when it came to education and educational performance, ranking third. It scored less well when it came to emotional health and participation in extracurricular activities.

When it comes to emotional health, New Jersey ranked 14th. Eight percent of New Jersey’s girls need treatment for emotional, behavioral, or developmental issues. Six percent of them have experienced neighborhood violence. (Nationally, the figures were 9 percent and 11 percent, respectively.) As for extracurricular activities, 82 percent of girls participate -- both in New Jersey as well as nationally.